By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

If the NHL lockout got you down and you stopped collecting cards, perhaps today is a good day to get back in the hobby.

It’s National Hockey Card Day in Canada (don’t worry Americans, your day is next week). In celebration, Upper Deck is giving away free packs of cards at participating hobby shops across the country.

The set consists of 16 cards from current and former members of Team Canada such as Sidney Crosby and Martin Brodeur. Fans can also head to Toys “R” Us or London Drugs to get one of five oversize cards.

Related post: National Hockey Card Day returns to Canada 

Events are held throughout Canada celebrating hockey and collecting where former NHL stars are on hand this weekend. Upper Deck is giving away packs at the Hockey Hall of Fame to visitors with paid admission while supplies last and at the Richmond Celebrate Hockey Day event in Western Canada.

Autographs of Jaden Schwartz, Dany Heatley and Bobby Orr are randomly inserted into packs.

To see a complete list of participating stores, click here.

If you do not have a store within 30 miles of where you live, Upper Deck is giving customers the opportunity to get packs. You can email UpperDeckMarketing@upperdeck.com for a chance to win. Here’s the information from Upper Deck’s website:

Email Subject Line: 2013 NHCD Canadian Free Pack Request

Email Body: Please include your full name, address, city, province, postal code and phone number and one (1) sentence as to why you would like someone to open up a trading card store in your hometown. Please double check your shipping information in particular because if the address is not correct, you won’t receive your pack!

Upper Deck will work with our hobby partners to provide at least one pack, per household while supplies last. Upper Deck is not responsible for lost mail. Please be patient for delivery. Emails must be received by Monday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.

Did you get to any of these events? Let us know.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor

National Hockey Card Day is coming back in 2013.

NHC will be held on Feb. 9 in Canada and Feb. 16 in United States, Upper Deck announced Thursday.

The event has been held for the last several years as way for Upper Deck to get customers into hobby shops. UD included the promotion in the U.S. for the first time in 2012.

With an NHL lockout putting a shadow over hockey, Upper Deck has looked for ways to entice collectors. In Canada, all 15 players on the checklist will be featured in their Team Canada uniform – rendering the NHL unnecessary in this case.

The United States NHC checklist will feature American-born players as well as international players on American franchises.

Each promotion will have a separate 16th card not available in packs, but for purchase. Canada’s 16th card is Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in the 1987 Canada Cup, and the U.S. card features Jonathan Quick hoisting the Stanley Cup for the Los Angeles Kings.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Hockey. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here.